Welcome to the Department of Ophthalmology's Research Web Page. As a key integral part of the four core missions of academic medicine, the Department of Ophthalmology remains dedicated to the advancement of clinical care for the vision-compromised patient through original research contributions and a comprehensive educational and training program for the next generation of Clinical Research Ophthalmologists.

By encouraging and supporting scholarly Research activities within local, regional, and national ophthalmic academic communities, including the development of the Chicago Research Consortium, the Department of Ophthalmology continues to lead the way toward advancing our understanding of diseases and disorders that are of central concern to the field of Ophthalmology.

Ping Bu, MD and Bruce Gaynes, OD, Pharm D

Many of the faculty enjoy national and international recognition for their expertise in ischemic retinal disease, corneal stem cell biology, oculoplastic reconstruction following trauma, management of microbial keratitis, post-LASIK glare disability, and the management of failed filtering blebs. These dedicated clinicians, researchers, and educators continue to seek research opportunities on an on-going basis. Ophthalmic residents have submitted to The Association For Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) successfully each year. The most recent submission “Effect of Travatan versus Travatan Z on Intraocular Pressure” discussed the effect on IOP of patients on Travatan after being switched to Travatan Z. The department continues to pursue support for Research and Educational scholastic activities through continued competitive support from the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Veteran's Affairs, and numerous private foundations including the Illinois Society for the Prevention of Blindness,
Fight for Sight Prevent Blindness America, Midwest Eye-Banks and Transplantation Center, and the Richard A. Perritt Charitable Foundation on an annual basis. Loyola and Hines received 19,055 nearly half of the 40,000 ISPB grants which are awarded to the Ophthalmology Departments of the 6 Academic Medical Centers in Chicago.

Cynthia Pervan, PhD, Kelly Langert, PhD and
Evan B. Stubbs, Jr, PhD

Research experience is a vital and necessary component of any comprehensive clinical training program. The Department of Ophthalmology is proud to address this challenge by providing all Ophthalmology Residents with the opportunity to conduct original research studies of basic or applied translational application. Under the supervision of a Faculty member, Ophthalmology Residents are required as part of their clinical training to contribute to ongoing research projects or conduct original research in an area of mutual interest with their Faculty advisor. Residents are expected to communicate their research findings at ARVO, the national research vision meeting held annually in Fort Lauderdale Florida and publish their findings in peer-reviewed academic journals. Locally, Ophthalmology Residents are expected to present their research findings at our Annual Resident Alumni Day and are strongly encouraged to compete for the Chicago Ophthalmological Beem Fischer Award, presented to the three best Resident research projects in the Chicago metropolitan area.

I encourage you to visit and explore the various Research subpages hosted within this Web domain to learn more about the individual Research interests and accomplishments of our Ophthalmology Faculty.